The foetus wasn't dead and this is what delayed more aggressive/invasive treatment. All cases are different and I'm surprised an MD would comment so decisively without direct access to a lot more data than is currently in the public domain. Abortion is legal in Ireland if there is a "clear and substantial risk" to the life of the mother, so either the medical team didn't think that standard was being met, or the lack of legislation and legal certainty inhibited their response, or religious bias caused them not to act in the best interests of their patient.